Sports

Rockies dig hole, can't escape in third consecutive road loss

DJ LeMahieu, the potential tying run in the ninth inning, is caught by second baseman Chase Utley after getting picked off first base. More photos. (Brian Garfinkel, Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA — Todd Helton waved awkwardly at the slider in the eighth inning and returned to the dugout a mixture of anger and frustration. He was trying to come up with an answer to a question that has dogged the Rockies for much of the second half of the season: Why can't they consistently hit?

Their decorated lineup, bursting with potential, has alternately exploded in bursts and fizzled at the fuse. The Rockies faced Ethan Martin on Monday night, the type of teetering starter they should devour. But Martin toyed with them for much of the night before leaving an impressive young reliever to dim the lights on the Rockies in the Philadelphia Phillies' 5-4 victory.

"Our leaders are playing well. The rest of us, myself included, need to step it up," third baseman Nolan Arenado said. "We need to pick it up and score more runs."

Martin struck out five of the first seven hitters he faced, the Rockies melting into mediocrity. Or worse. Winning here used to be an upset because these, after all, were the Phillies. Losing here now is an upset because, um, these are the Phillies. They have won just seven times since the all-star break. To put that in perspective, the Los Angeles Dodgers have lost just four times in two months.

Colorado fell behind 4-0, and then 5-0. Trends can be deceiving, but this one isn't. The Rockies have won just once on the road when the opponent scores first. They fell to 1-30, their lone victory in these circumstances Friday at Baltimore.

Starter Jeff Manship dug the hole. He's barely holding onto a rotation spot following his second consecutive poor outing. The right-hander allowed two home runs in five innings, John Mayberry Jr.'s three-run shot in the fourth inning a fist to the windpipe.

Down by five runs, the Rockies mounted a late charge. Troy Tulowitzki hit his 21st home run and Todd Helton belted his 583rd double, moving into 17th-place all time and scoring Michael Cuddyer. Wilin Rosario extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a two-run single.

Starting pitcher Jeff Manship of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. More photos. (Brian Garfinkel, Getty Images)

While inching back revealed the team's competitive streak, the inability to excel in the clutch was paralyzing. With runners at second and third in the eighth, Arenado rattled reliever Jacob Diekman. Or made him furious. After Arenado's attempt to call time resulted in a balk, Diekman fired a 99 mph fastball by the rookie for the final out.

In the ninth, DJ LeMahieu greeted closer Jonathan Papelbon with a bloop single to center. After leaning heavily toward second base on the first pitch to Charlie Culberson, LeMahieu tried the strategy again. He was an easy mark for the right-hander who fired to first, freezing LeMahieu in a rundown.

"I guessed wrong," LeMahieu said.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss, however, essentially took the blame for the pickoff, adding that he told LeMahieu to steal if he got on base.

The Rockies have had trouble explaining their streaky offense. But this one made perfect sense as they sputtered in the clutch and were caught red-handed on the bases.

To this day, some Rockies wonder if the 2009 playoffs would have unfolded differently if Jorge De La Rosa weren't hurt. He represented a potential neutralizing force to the Phillies' left-handed-centric lineup, which knocked Colorado out of the postseason. De La Rosa is enjoying the best year of his career. The Rockies plan to pick up his $11 million club option and are open to a possible contract extension. Jimmy Rollins gives De La Rosa fits, going 5-for-13 with a home run. Tyler Cloyd, a spot starter, was clobbered by the Rockies last September for eight hits in four innings.

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